ISSN 1811-1351 # 2 (29) JUNE 2007

96th International Labour Conference concludes

GENEVA (ILO News) – The 96th the Recommendation will come into ef- Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. annual conference of the International fect when they are ratified by 10 29), following up measures taken in the Labour Organization concluded its 15- (including eight coastal nations) of the context of Article 33 of the ILO Consti- day run on June 15 after adopting a com- ILO’s 180 member States (for further tution. prehensive new set of labour standards details see ILO press release ILO/07/37). The Committee expressed its pro- for the fishing industry and holding ex- The Conference also adopted a pro- found concern at the forced labour situa- tensive discussions on new approaches to gramme and budget for the 2008-09 bien- tion in Myanmar, as reflected in the ob- promoting sustainable enterprises and nium of US$ 641.7 million. The Confer- servation of the Committee of Experts. It decent work. ence also examined proposals to concluded that none of the recommenda- The International Labour Conference, strengthen the governance of the ILO and tions of the Commission of Inquiry had the annual gathering of more than 3,000 its capacity to service constituents. yet been implemented, and the imposi- delegates representing governments, and On June 15 in a ceremony in the ple- tion of forced labour continued to be workers and employers from the ILO’s nary, the ILO awarded its first annual widespread, particularly by the army to 180 member States, also launched a new Decent Work Research Prize to Nobel which specific instructions should be partnership aimed at eliminating child peace laureate and former South African issued. The Committee urged the Gov- labour in agriculture and considered a President Nelson Mandela and to the ernment to implement all the recommen- number of issues regarding adherence to eminent academic and specialist in social dations of the Commission of Inquiry. international labour standards. security, Professor Carmelo Mesa-Lago, In addition to this special sitting, the In a wide-ranging analysis of the role Professor Emeritus on Economics and Committee carried out the examination of Decent Work in promoting sustainable Latin American Studies of the University of 25 other individual cases covering the development, ILO Director-General Juan of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. whole range of concerns addressed in Somavia called for the strengthening of ILO standards. the ILO’s capacity on a number of fronts. Sustainable enterprises Noting the lack of progress with re- He urged delegates to consider a new In its conclusions, the Conference spect to freedom of association in Bela- “Green Jobs Initiative” to support sus- Committee on Sustainable Enterprises rus, the Committee expressed in a spe- tainable development and called for new said that sustainable enterprises are a cial paragraph its concern about the situa- approaches to dealing with trade and em- principal source of growth, wealth crea- tion in the country. The Committee reit- ployment, labour market analysis and the tion, employment and decent work. To erated the imperative need for the Gov- reduction of “global decent work defi- realize these gains, a conducive environ- ernment to act without delay to ensure cits”. ment for sustainable enterprises is essen- that all workers and employers organiza-

Delegates gave overwhelming sup- tial, including peace and political stabil- tions can function freely and without port to new standards designed to im- ity, good governance and the rule of law, interference and obtain registration with- prove the conditions of millions of men social dialogue, respect for universal hu- out prior authorization. and women working in the fishing sector. man rights and international labour stan- The Committee also noted the con- The new standards contain provisions dards, entrepreneurial culture, sound eco- cerns raised relating to the draft Trade designed to ensure that workers in the nomic policies, fair competition and ac- Union Law. In this respect, the Commit- fishing sector have improved occupa- cess to financial services, physical and tee urged the Government to vigorously tional safety and health and medical care technological infrastructure, education pursue its consultations with all social at sea. They also call for sick or injured and training, and environmental sustain- partners in the country, and its coopera- fishers to receive care ashore, sufficient ability, the Committee says. tion with the ILO, with a view to making rest for their health and safety, the pro- the legislative changes required to bring tection of a work agreement, and the International labour standards the law and practice into full conformity same social security protection as other The Committee on the Application of with the Convention and the Commission workers. Standards again held a special sitting on of Inquiry recommendations. The Convention, to be known as The the application by Myanmar of the (Continued on Page 2) Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 and

96th International Labour Conference concludes

(Continued from Page 1) ommended that the Governing Body Director of the Standards Department, Welcoming the Government’s state- reconsider this matter in November and Ms. Oksana Wolfson, legal officer of ment that it would continue to cooperate 2007. the same department. with the national social partners and that The General Survey discussed by the Belarus invited Kari Tapiola to dis- it had invited a high-level ILO mission Conference Committee this year was on cuss a draft law on trade unions and immediately following the Conference, forced labour. take part in a meeting of the council for the Committee expressed the firm hope upgrading labour legislation under the that significant progress in ensuring full While preparing the issue Belarussian Labour and Social Protec- respect for freedom of association would On June 20, ILO Executive Director tion Ministry due on June 21.■ be made without any further delay. In Kari Tapiola arrived in the Belarussian order to appropriately monitor develop- capital for a three-day visit. He is ac- By information of the Belarussian News ments in this regard, the Committee rec- companied by Ms. Karen Curtis, Deputy agency Appointments

Ms. Elaine Fultz their social security systems to match the ber of the professional staff of the Ways has been appointed needs and constraints of market econo- and Means Subcommittee on Social Se- new director of the mies and the requirements of EU mem- curity (1987-1994). As chief legislative ILO Subregional bership. She has collaborated with the assistant, she specialized in tax law, un- office for Eastern senior staff of CEE labour ministries; employment insurance, social assistance, Europe and Cen- directors of social insurance and social health insurance issues, and social secu- tral Asia with ef- assistance agencies; officials of trade rity. At the Social Security Subcommit- fect from June 1, union confederations and employers’ tee, she specialized in disability pension 2007. associations; advocacy organizations legislation, extension of social security Elaine Fultz is a working on behalf of women, persons coverage, and legislative oversight of the US citizen who was born in the state of with disabilities, and the elderly; and US Social Security Commission. North Carolina. She holds bachelor’s academic researchers, largely economists In 1995, Ms. Fultz was appointed and master’s degrees in education from and sociologists working in pensions, executive director of the National Com- George Washington University (1971, forecasting, poverty, and income ine- mission on Childhood Disability, a na- 72) and a PhD in public administration quality. A major thrust of her work has tional study group created by the US from New York University (1991). She been aimed at assisting workers and em- Congress to make recommendations for is married to John Melton Francis, a lin- ployers in fulfilling their roles as the restructuring cash benefits for the fami- guist specializing in education and com- governments’ partners in social policy lies of disabled children. On the comple- munication, and has one son, John Kirk making. She has also carried out studies tion of the Commission’s work, she Francis, who is working on his PhD in of social policy reforms in 17 CEE coun- joined the ILO, where her first assign- mathematics at Massachusetts Institute tries designed to address questions perti- ment was first stationed in Harare, Zim- of Technology. nent to the development of policy advice babwe as social security specialist for For the past seven years, Ms. Fultz for ILO constituents. Southern Africa (1995-1999). has served the Senior Specialist in Social Before joining the ILO, Ms. Fultz Ms. Fultz has authored or edited Security at the ILO Subregional Office worked for 14 years in the US House of more than 20 publications on social se- for Central and Eastern Europe in Buda- Representatives, first as chief legislative curity reform and has received an award pest. There she has managed major ILO assistant to a member of congress serv- for distinguished public service from her technical cooperation projects to assist ing on the Ways and Means Committee alma mater, New York University, Wag- regional governments in modernizing (1975-82) and, subsequently, as a mem- ner School of Public Service. ■

Nilim Baruah has able, participative and equitable approach In 1991-1994 he was a regional representa- been appointed chief to the governance of labour migration in the tive of OXFAM in Bhubaneshwar, India. In technical advisor of Russian Federation, Armenia, Kazakhstan, 1994-1997 he was OXFAM relief coordina- Russian Federation/ Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. tor and later country representative in Yere- CIS migration project. Nilim Baruah graduated from St. van. He worked as Actionaid programme As we wrote in our Stephen’s College University of Delhi officer in Bangalore, India (1987-1991). He December issue, the (B.A.) and Norman Paterson School of also was a consultant of the Canadian Inter- ILO under EU’s fi- International Affairs Carleton University, national Development Agency and a devel- nancial assistance Ottawa, Canada. opment associate of PRADAN launched large-scale Until now he headed the labour migra- (Professional Assistance for Development three-year project Towards Sustainable tion service of the International Organiza- Action). Partnerships for the Effective Governance tion for Migration in Geneva. From 1999 to Aside from his mother tongue – As- of Labour Migration in the Russian Federa- 2002 he worked at the IOM office in Yere- samese, he has command of English, tion, the Caucasus and Central Asia. van, Armenia, occupying different posts – good knowledge of Hindu and Bengali, The project aims to promote a sustain- from a project director to the mission chief. and speaks Russian and Armenian.■ Newsletter №2 (29), Page 2

SIYB takes first steps in Ingushetia and North Ossetia

Fourteen North Ossetian women and provided them with training materials to men became the first participants in a run training of potential entrepreneurs, to ten-day training conducted by the ILO provide consultations and coaching to Moscow Office in Vladikavkaz on 15-25 new and existing businesses. The objec- April. They came from training institu- tive of the project Entrepreneurship De- tions, employment services, non- velopment and Training in North Cauca- governmental organizations, and inde- sus is to promote SME development and pendent business agencies interested in employment growth by creating local becoming potential trainers as a result of potential for entrepreneurial training and the first Training of Trainers (TOT) on education in three republics of the North Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Caucasus (North Ossetia, Ingushetia, programme. Chechnya). The ILO’s programme continued its work in Nazran, Ingushetia with the and a series of focus groups with unem- similar SIYB TOT on 29 April – 10 May ployed and with entrepreneurs. 2007 for a group of 16 potential entre- The RMA’s purpose was to analyze preneurship trainers. Both TOT work- the socio-economic situation, the status shops were run by two certified ILO of business development services (BDS) SIYB Master Trainers from and market, demand and supply of BDS, ob- Kyrgyzstan. stacles and opportunities for BDS market In parallel, another SIYB Master growth, and the needs of the potential Trainer in cooperation with an independ- entrepreneurs among the target groups ent consultant from the Plekhanov Rus- (especially unemployed, youth, women). sian Academy of Economics and local The RMA research tool of ILO experts from North Ossetia and In- SIYB programme is a practical cost- As ‘newly born’ SIYB trainers they gushetia implemented a Rapid Market effective tool, including “here-and-now” will be acting as mediators between the Appraisal (RMA) in Nazran and Vladi- approach and thus delivers actual infor- business development services and the kavkaz on 21-28 April. They interviewed mation about the current business envi- emerging small and medium enterprises public employment services, banking ronment.■ (SMEs). The ILO certified them and institutions, business training companies

ILO Global Report “Equality at work: Tackling the challenges” - expert’s comments

On May 10, gally bans all types of discrimination rights instruments. It is important to the ILO pub- in all areas of life, including workplace note that Russia has no special bodies lished its new discrimination (Russia is a signatory to responsible for prevention or elimina- global report most international treaties and ratified tion of discrimination either at the fed- on equality at most ILO conventions on discrimina- eral or regional level. The existing work. In its tion; its national labour legislation administrative mechanisms of protec- most compre- meets international standards and con- tion against discrimination, in fact, hensive report on discrimination to tains no discriminatory provisions – remain unused. There are also many date, the ILO’s “Equality at work: moreover, the Russian Constitution social phenomena hampering to stamp Tackling the challenges” cites both guarantees not only equal rights and out discrimination at work. First of all, progress and failures in the struggle to freedoms to men and women, but also we should note citizens’ low aware- fight discrimination ranging from tra- equal opportunities for their realiza- ness of their labour rights and opportu- ditional forms such as sex, race or tion), discrimination is still wide- nities to protect these rights. Tolerance religion, to newer forms based on age, spread. to gender discrimination is fed by pa- triarchic stereotypes, traditions and sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status Surveys show that at present the norms widespread in Russia. and disability. reduction of the scale and conse- Marina Baskakova, an ILO ex- quences of discrimination in Russia is It is quite clear that Russia should pert, Doctor of Economic Sciences, hampered by many factors, first of all take urgent steps to study problems of and senior research worker of the In- by the lack of mechanisms to imple- all types of discrimination. Both inter- stitute for Social Processes Manage- ment the existing non-discrimination national experience to combat dis- ment of the State University — Higher legislation. A special problem in the crimination and the implementation of School of Economics: fight against discrimination is that ILO’s action plan proposed by the judges and the public at large have Global Report authors will help Russia No doubt that the issue raised in little knowledge of international labour take more effective actions in this

the report is very pressing for modern standards and non-discrimination pro- area.■ Russia. Although our government le- visions of the international human

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 3

Harvest for the future — agriculture without child labour

Where the cotton is high… The influx of seasonal labour migrants in work that requires accuracy and dili- child labour in agriculture in from neighbouring countries to Kazakhstan gence such as tobacco sorting and string- also contributes to the incidence of child ing, while boys do more physical and en- Central Asia labour in tobacco and cotton plantations. It durance work, such as weeding and press- is estimated that migrant children consti- ing. tute the majority of working children in the “No wonder the health of the working season. Children working in Central Asian children is poor. Physically demanding cotton and tobacco fields are a common work, inadequate rest, malnutrition, un- picture today. sanitary and risky working conditions, But the situation was not always like exposure to chemicals and hazardous com- that: child labour has only recently ponents cannot but affect the children’s emerged as a major issue in the Central health”, says Klaus Günther, adding that Asian Republics (CAR) of Kazakhstan, “child labour also contributes to incom- Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. plete school enrolments or jeopardizes the Though the use of children in tobacco and quality of rural education and puts the goal There are no exact figures for the cotton growing was prevalent and enforced of universal primary education at risk number of child labourers in the agricul- by the state in the Soviet past, exploitative which the country had nearly achieved”. tural sector in the Central Asian Repub- and hazardous forms of child labour were lics but national experts indicate that chil- largely absent; labour markets were tightly Forging partnerships against dren constitute a significant segment of controlled and the state assured childcare child labour the workforce in the tobacco and cotton and monitoring services that minimised The increase in the incidence of child fields. Since 2005, an ILO programme exploitation and abuse of children. labour has led the ILO‘s IPEC programme aims at empowering national actors to “This changed with the collapse of the to focus its attention on the Central Asian fight the worst forms of child labour in socialist model of a planned economy in Republics (CAR). Since 2005, a large- line with ILO Convention 182. the early nineties of the last century. In the scale programme called PROACT-CAR is ALMATY, Kazakhstan (ILO online) new economic environment, an array of implemented in the four countries – Ka- It’s summertime in the fields of Central factors contributed to the use of child la- zakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uz- Asia and the cotton is high. But the scenery bour in agriculture, including rural poverty, bekistan. is less idyllic than in George Gershwin’s large families, the widespread use of man- The programme aims at empowering musical Porgy and Bess. ual unskilled work in tobacco and cotton national actors from the grass roots to pol- Fifteen year-old Timur and his family growing, the lack of preschool child care icy makers to fight the worst forms of child belong to those Kyrgyz labour migrants facilities and educational and training alter- labour in line with ILO Convention 182. who came from Kyrgystan to a cotton natives for rural children and youth”, ex- The activities include building a knowl- growing in Kazakhstan in search plains Klaus Günther, Senior Programme edge base on child labour; dissemination of for jobs and income. Timur started to work Officer in the ILO’s International Pro- information; awareness raising; policy and in the fields at the age of eleven and is out gramme on the Elimination of Child La- legislative support; and direct assistance of school because he has no identity docu- bour (IPEC). provided to working children and their ments. He works there from March to What’s more, with the reforms in agri- families. “The ILO Member States in Cen- early December, sometimes from 8 am to 9 culture, including the privatization of the tral Asia acknowledge that child labour is a pm. His working day exceeds considerably land and the development of a market sys- growing problem”, says Klaus Guenther. the limit fixed by national labour law. tem in rural areas, family farms have “They are strongly committed to address Timur says that he does not like the emerged where all family members, in- the issue. There is, however, limited capac- work because it is hard and tiresome. “If I cluding children, work together. ity to fully apply Convention 182 in these did not have to work, I would like to go to The Central Asian republics followed countries, and IPEC stands ready to pro- school”, he says. But his parents who can this trend. Even in Kazakhstan, the country vide all possible assistance to facilitate hardly feed their family from the work in with the most dynamic economy in Central concerted national efforts against the worst the fields think that it is normal for their Asia and an increasingly formalised labour forms of child labour”. “The Government children to help them. market, the development of rural areas has of Kazakhstan recognizes the problem of Kazakhstan has achieved undoubted so far lagged behind other sectors although child labour and addresses the issue in a successes in its socioeconomic develop- the Government has taken a number of principle and sustainable way. It has to be ment and advanced government policies strategic measures to increase the effec- noted that child labour in our country is have led to significant improvements in tiveness of agriculture, the incomes of agri- closely related to migration, because many children’s and families’ lives. As a result cultural workers and living standards of of the working children are from migrant of this, child labour which was seemingly rural families. families coming from the neighbouring prevalent in the 90s, has significantly de- In Central Asia, in both tobacco and states. We actively work with our local clined in Kazakhstan. cotton growing, children do all types of administrations, schools and farmers, and Yet child labour is often a survival work. In tobacco, they are involved in to- we already have positive results. We have strategy for those less lucky members of bacco sowing, irrigation, weeding, picking, resolved, to a considerable extent, the child society – migrants, poor families and trou- sorting, stringing and pressing; in cotton labour issue in tobacco growing but a lot bled families. Moreover, child labour is children do weeding, worm collection and still needs to be done. We appreciate the becoming a regional, cross-border issue. cotton gathering. Girls are more involved

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 4

World Day against child labour — 2007

assistance provided by ILO-IPEC and we the exploitation of child labour” were ings that reflected the author’s thoughts hope that our cooperation will continue in summed up in Almaty. The campaign was about child labour in Tajikistan. the future”, says Gulzhana Karagussova, organized by the public organization Union The exhibition was organized by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of of Women of Intellectual Labour, the Inter- non-governmental organization The Youth Population and a delegate to the Interna- national Labour Organizations, Almaty’s Foundation 21st Century, the musical instru- tional Labour Conference. A lot has already administration and prosecutor’s office and ments museum with the ILO’s support. been done. The recently adopted in Kazakh- representatives of non-governmental organi- By the information of the REGNUM news stan Labour Code states the prohibition of zations and mass media. It was launched on agency the worst forms of child labour as one of its June 1 – the Children’s Day and was held till key principles and provides high level of June 12 – the World Day against Child La- Tajikistan launches new site on pro- protection to children. Next, thanks to the bour. tection of children’s rights PROACT-CAR project, data on WFCL in The campaign’s goal was to raise public On April 17, a new web site on Tajiki- the four Central Asian countries has been awareness and mobilize people’s efforts in stan’s social policy reform and protection of collected and analyzed; awareness and mobi- combating child labour. children’s rights was represented in the La- lization work is underway at all levels - from “The fact that so many organizations bour and Social Protection Ministry in law-makers to local communities, individual took part in the project proves that people Dushanbe (http://socialpolicy.freenet.tj/ families and children. Special mention merit are not indifferent to the future of our chil- index.htm). media contests called “Real Stories on Child dren and that everybody heard our appeal to The site was developed by the scientific Labour”, which bring the issue of child la- fight child labour. We will sum up the key research institute for labour and social pro- bour to public attention. An important ele- results of our work on October 1,” the presi- tection of population in cooperation with the ment of the PROACT-CAR programme is dent of the Union of Women of Intellectual national commission for children’s rights sharing experience and information on the Labour, Laila Akhmetova, said. and under technical assistance of Tajiki- worst forms of child labour across the subre- By the information of the Kazinform news stan’s government and UN Children’s Fund gion. agency (UNICEF). “Let us hope that children like Timur will fulfil their dream and go to school, and Exhibition “Harvest for the Future: ag- Kyrgyzstan’s southern region says that the motto of this year’s World Day riculture without child labour” opens No to Child Labour! against Child Labour - Harvest for the Fu- in Dushanbe The campaign devoted to the World Day ture: agriculture without child labour - will From June 12 to June 18 Tajikistan’s against Child Labour was held in the town of soon become a reality worldwide” , con- capital hosted an exhibition of graphic works Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan, on June 12. It cludes Michele Jankanish, Director of ILO- by Tajik graphic painter Farrukh Negma- included different performances, competi- IPEC.■ dzade in the Gurmindzh Zavkibekov musical tions and relay races for street children from instruments museum. The exhibition was Osh and the nearby town of Karasuu, as well “12 days against the exploitation of devoted to the World Day against Child as for inmates of children’s daytime centres child labour” Labour and carried its central theme Harvest and the Boorukerdyk boarding school. On June 12, the preliminary results of the for the Future: agriculture without child la- By the information of the REGNUM news awareness raising campaign “12 days against bour. It brought together 55 graphic paint- agency

Sveshnikov Andrei, 13 «To unload railway Sologubik Maxim, 11 Pogdusev Dmitry, 12 wagons — not for children!» «Guys, wash your cars by yourself!» «All can be different!» Stop child labour!

This was a slogan of a regular contest in and types of child labour, its consequences and officials of regional education and youth children’s drawings, paintings and photo- and danger it poses. But children have to affairs departments chose winners in three graphs organized by ILO/IPEC. This time it find the idea of their works and give it a title age groups: 7-10, 11-13 and 14-17 years. was held in four schools of Vyborg, the Len- on their own – some of them used pencils, Awarding ceremonies took place in each ingrad region. In late May the jury chose some – paints and others took photos. school during annual celebrations devoted to best works out of the 125 participants. The jury bringing together a secretary of the end of the school year. Winners and Teachers discussed the problem of child the regional commission on minors and pro- teachers, who helped organize the competi- labour with their pupils focusing on reasons tection of their rights, art school teachers, tion, received presents and souvenirs. ■

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 5

Armenia and ILO sign Decent Work Country Programme

On March 26 the ILO and its tripar- commissions. Collective bargaining Martin Harutyunyan - expressed their tite partners – government, employers’ will help to address such issues as wage satisfaction with the work of the na- and workers organizations - signed a disparity, wage discrimination and low- tional tripartite working group that had Decent Work Country Programme for pay. been created to draft the Programme. the Republic of Armenia for 2007- The Decent Work Country Pro- Werner Konrad Blenk, ILO Subre- 2011. gramme also aims to improve social gional Director for Eastern Europe and protection in Armenia, especially a na- Central Asia said: “Decent Work Coun- tional occupational safety and health try Programmes are the main instrument (OSH) system. Safety and working con- for ILO cooperation with member states ditions in the country have been dete- throughout the world. They organize riorating since the collapse of the Soviet the ILO cooperation in a coherent and Union, and the labour inspectorate has integrated framework that effectively ceased to exist. The ILO calculates that enables the country to make progress accidents and poor working conditions towards achieving decent work for all”. cost the employers and the country up He underlined the considerable role to 4 per cent of the Gross National of the minister, deputy minister and Product. Thanks to the joint efforts of social partners in developing this De- the Government, the social partners and cent Work Country Programme that Aghvan Vardanyan, Werner Blenk the ILO, a new labour code and a Law will serve as a roadmap for the future on Labour Inspection were adopted. A activities. A priority issue in the new Pro- significant event was also the creation gramme is the improvement of employ- of a completely new labour inspection ment policies. Despite active GDP system with more than 140 inspectors growth of 13,4%, employment prob- covering all regions of the country. The lems still persist in the country and the Programme will further promote putting unemployment rate is still high - 8.2%. the country’s OSH legislation and prac- The ILO will assist the social part- tices into compliance with the interna- ners in effectively using labour market tional standards analysis in formulating and implement- Other priorities of the Programme ing labour market policies in order to include HIV/AIDS prevention at the strengthen links between education and workplace and the application of ILO the labour market. Technical advice and Conventions No. 138 and 182 on the capacity building will be provided for elimination of the worst forms of child the improvement of the law and prac- labour. tice concerning recruitment, oversight Speaking at the signing ceremony, He also stressed the DWCP contri- and protection of migrant workers. Aghvan Vardanyan, Minister of Labour bution to international development Another central issue is strengthen- and Social Issues, underlined the tripar- framework, such as poverty reduction ing of social partnership. The Pro- tite nature of the new Programme. Its strategies, the United Nations Develop- gramme foresees further development priorities were identified and agreed ment Assistance Framework (UNDAF), of the legal basis for social partnership upon by the tripartite constituents in national Millennium Development and social dialogue, including sectoral consultation with the ILO, the minister Goals strategies and other integrated and enterprise level, collective bargain- said. Heads of employers’ and workers development plans.■ ing, promotion of tripartite and bipartite organizations – Arsen Ghazaryan and

Azerbaijan’s employers complete project on The National Confederation of Entre- the national level. The project covered base, tourism and agriculture. preneurs’ (Employers’) Organizations of two sectors of national economy — ho- For the project’s effective implemen- Azerbaijan (ASK) has successfully com- tel tourism and agriculture and was im- tation the ASK set up a productivity and pleted the project “Capacity building of plemented in six pilot regions: Guba, competitiveness centre to provide con- employers’ organizations on productiv- Gusar, Khachmaz in the north and sultations to members and potential ity and competitiveness” that was imple- Lenkoran, Astara, Lerik in the south of members of the project on how to in- mented with ILO’s support in July 2005 the country. crease competitiveness and productivity through January 2007. In 2005, within the framework of the at the individual, national and interna- The project’s goal was to assist mem- project the ILO conducted Azerbaijan’s tional levels. bers or potential members of employers’ first-ever survey on productivity and The ASK held the Training of organizations in capacity-building on competitiveness among 450 respondents. Trainers courses to create a network of productivity and competitiveness, im- The survey covered business develop- local trainers on productivity and com- proving business education and increas- ment and programs in personnel man- petitiveness. Ten trainers from six pilot ing productivity and competitiveness at agement policy, taxation, legislative districts took courses.

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 6

Decent Work Programme for Tajikistan signed

promoting of standards, fundamental Speaking at the signing ceremony, principles and rights at work. The Re- Mr. Shukurjon Zukhorov, Minister of public of Tajikistan has ratified 44 ILO Labour of Tajikistan, said that “the Conventions, including all eight funda- main objective of the Program was to mental ones; however the implementa- promote further development of the tion mechanisms and framework need social and labour sphere in the Republic to be improved. A lot also needs to be of Tajikistan aimed at attaining the goal done to introduce principles of social of Decent Work for all”. The Minister dialogue into the regulation of social called the Programme “a logical con- and labour relations. tinuation of the successful cooperation Another important issue is labour that has been developed between the migration, which has been key to eco- Republic of Tajikistan and the Interna- nomic development and the survival of tional Labour Organization”. people in Tajikistan, and relieving so- The social partners – Mr. Azizbek cial pressure stemming from high un- Sharipov, on behalf of the Tajik em- employment. Every year, about 250.000 ployers, and Mr. Karchi Karimov, on Sh. Zukhorov, F. Buttler Tajik workers leave their country in behalf of the Tajik trade unions – ex- search of work. Most of them go to pressed strong commitment of their GENEVA (ILO News) − On June Russia also as to neighbouring countries organizations to implement, through the 14 the Tajik tripartite delegation to the of Central Asia. means of social dialogue, all the objec- annual Conference of International La- Many of them have no work or resi- tives outlined in the new Decent Work bour Organization and ILO Regional dence permit that would allow them to Programme. Director for Europe and Central Asia stay and work legally in the destination Friedrich Buttler signed a Programme countries. The Programme aims to ad- of Cooperation on Decent Work be- dress issues of irregular migration in- tween Tajikistan and the ILO for the cluding its extreme form – trafficking in years 2007-2009. persons. The current social and economic Other priorities of the Programme situation in the country is characterized are the elimination of the worst forms by some positive trends, including a of child labour, assistance in small and steady tendency for economic recovery, medium-size enterprise development, decrease of inflation and improvement and in further development of national in living standards. The GDP growth vocational training system, also through shows a positive dynamic: 8.3 percent the ILO’s Modular Employable Skills Tajik tripartite partners signing the document in 2000, 10.8 per cent in 2002, 11.0 methodology. percent in 2003, 10.6 percent in 2004 Within the new Decent Work Pro- Mr. Friedrich Buttler stressed the and 6.7 percent in 2005. Alongside this gramme the ILO will assist its partners role of the Programme in advancing the positive development in the economy in improving the pay system and social Decent Work Agenda in Tajikistan as and social sphere, numerous problems protection schemes. Emphasis will be well as in strengthening collaboration still persist, and the new decent Work also made on combating HIV/AIDS in with other UN agencies, finds and pro- Programme aims to address these chal- the world of work and on addressing the grammes at the national level and in the lenges. occupational safety and health prob- implementation of the UN system ef- A priority issue in the Programme is lems. forts to “deliver as one”.■

productivity and competitiveness

The training was based on Training sults of the ILO project. gatala and Bilasuvar bringing together Modules developed and published by In late January the confederation 75 entrepreneurs and journalists. It is the ASK with ILO’s financial support. took part in a subregional conference on important to note that many women The confederation held workshops competitiveness and productivity of attended the seminars. and roundtable meetings in all pilot employers’ associations in the Caucasus The confederation plans to apply the districts and published the guidelines on and Central Asia in Tbilisi, Georgia. project on productivity and competitive- productivity and competitiveness that Employers of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ar- ness in other service sectors and indus- contained necessary information on the menia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyr- tries to boost companies’ competitive- tools to increase productivity and com- gyzstan exchanged experience in the ness and create many decent work- petitiveness as well as national legisla- project’s implementation. places within the framework of the De- tive acts on the issue. In May, the ASK held a second cent Work Country Programme for On January 17, the ASK held a final stage of seminars on productivity and 2006-2009, which was signed by Azer- conference in Baku to sum up the re- competitiveness in Ismailly, Sheki, Za- baijan and the ILO last November.■

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 7

World Day for Safety and Health at Work:

World Day for Safety and Open Day the Murmansk region The Far Eastern Shipping Health at Work throughout organized exhibitions of books on oc- Company held an annual week for cupational safety and health and of safety and health to focus on studying Russia personal protection equipment and and practicing occupational safety Every year the World Day for held consultations both for individuals standards by seafarers and workers of Safety and Health at Work grow lar- and organizations on the issues of border services. ger and larger all over Russia. This safety management in enterprises and The Jewish Autonomous Dis- year it look like being marked in every of compensations payment for danger- for the first time organized a small town and big city and at each ous and hazardous working condi- trict enterprise. Unfortunately, the format tions. month campaign for safety and health of our Newsletter cannot enclose all at work mounting banner slogans say- The trade unions federation in the ing “Corporate Culture Guarantees information about every participant in town of Gvardeisk, the Kalinin- this action, therefore we give you just Safe Work!” and “Yes to Occupa- organized refresher a mosaic from Russia’s different re- grad region, tional Safety and Health!”, showing a gions to show the Day’s real scale. courses for heads of enterprises, em- TV program and opening a page on ployers and chiefs of occupational labour management at the regional safety commissions. authorities’ official website.■ Russia’s State Duma hosted a The Makeyev Rocket Design news conference devoted to the open- Bureau that has become the first ing of the exhibition of protection enterprise in the Chelyabinsk re- Tashkent hosts conference equipment and safety measures that on occupational safety and was mounted in the Duma’s building gion to join the all-Russia OSH Day on April 23-27. It was initiated by the action held a month campaign to in- health Duma labour and social policy com- spect enterprises’ observance of occu- On May 21-24, Tashkent hosted a mittee and organized by the associa- pational safety and explosion preven- conference on occupational safety and tion of designers, producers and sup- tion demands and to hold occupational health problems organized by the pliers of personal protection clothes safety trainings. Council of Trade Unions Federation and footwear. also had a month of of Uzbekistan. The Belgorod energy system events devoted to the OSH Day. The Taking part in the conference were takes continuous efforts to better republic’s Aznakayevo, and parliamentarians, representatives of working conditions and ensure safe Tukayevsky districts organized panel the women’s committee of Uzbeki- workplaces. The inter-regional power games on occupational safety and stan, the Labour and Social Protection distribution network of the Centre and health, the – a Ministry as well as other ministries North Caucasus that includes Bel- competition on schools’ safety, Al- and agencies, non-governmental or- gorodenergo announced 2007 the Year metyevsk – a quiz Do You Know Oc- ganizations, ILO experts and trade of Occupational Safety and every cupational Safety and Health?, the unionists from Russia, Ukraine, Bela- three months were devoted to different Moscow district of capital – a rus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. contest for the best knowledge of issues of occupation safety – training The conference was chaired by the and knowledge quiz, preparations for safety rules and workshop on first aid to the injured, the Novo-Savinsk dis- head of the Council of Trade Unions maintenance and repair campaign, Federation of Uzbekistan, Dilbar observance of safety rules at work- trict – a meeting with heads of educa- tional institutions on safe working Dzhakhongirova. She stated that place and preparations for autumn- large-scale reforms on economic and winter period. conditions for children during school holidays. social infrastructure development con- The Izhevsk railway depart- ducted by President Islam Karimov Occupational safety commission of ment held a workshop on occupa- are aimed at improving living stan- the North Caucasian railway tional safety and health, and an exhibi- dards and meeting people’s needs and pooled efforts to outline an action plan tion of personal protection clothes and priorities. that included inspections of safety footwear for railway workers and of The creation of alternative and safe rules observance, workshops, confer- training materials and manuals. Win- working conditions is a part of such ences and competitions. ners of railway safety contests for reforms. Article 37 of Uzbekistan’s 2006 as well as workers contributing Ryazan and the Ryazan re- Constitution says every citizen in the to the creation of safe working condi- gion held the Day of Occupational country has the right to work, to free tions were awarded. Safety Specialists to discuss occupa- choice of employment, just and favor- The Saratov region for the first tional safety and health in the revised able conditions of work and protection time held the Week for Occupational Labour Code of Russia. against unemployment. Safety and Health as well as roundta- Krasnodar’s municipal organi- This factor plays an important role ble meetings and workshops. zations and institutions mark the Day in social and economic development of the society. Bad working conditions Within the framework of the Doors for Safety and Health at Work regu- larly – first Thursday of every month. lead to excessive costs of labour, re- Newsletter №2 (29), Page 8

summing up results sources and raw materials. The well- “Deputy Labour Minister Batyr forts of the government, trade unions established occupational safety and Alimukhamedov presented a draft and labour inspectors to ensure citi- health system as well as the creation Decent Work Country Programme. zens’ right to safe working conditions. And we put forward recommenda- of favourable and comfortable work- They also exchanged opinions on tions to ratify a number of Conven- ing conditions are economically vi- other countries’ experience and effec- tions and implement ILO-OSH 2001 – able for workers, employers and the tive measures to be taken to improve GOST 12.0.230-2007,” senior spe- country in general. occupational safety and health. cialist in occupational safety and Uzbekistan conducts large-scale health of the ILO Moscow Office “The ILO mission plans to visit work to improve the OSH system in Wiking Husberg said. Uzbekistan in December to hold a all economic entities. The Trade Un- seminar on the national OSH profile, “We also discussed the foreseen ions Federation of Uzbekistan con- review progress in this area and sign Finnish project to support the mod- tributes to this. the DWCP, if applicable,” Wiking ernisation of the Uzbek national OSH Husberg said.■ As a result of joint measures to system and the Korean research pro- upgrade the OSH system, its norma- ject on OSH to improve the collection tive and legal base and increase con- of statistics on occupational acci- trol over the implementation of labour dents,” he said. Uzbekistan’s national news agency legislation, the government, employ- UzA Partakers discussed how to resolve ers and trade unions helped reduce officially registered occupational acci- the pressing issues of occupational dents. safety and heath and coordinate ef-

Our publications

Occupational Safety and Health These two training manuals are designed for specialists and heads of organizations’ safety services (green cover) and for members of organi- zations’ safety commissions and trade unions’ specially authorized persons (yellow cover). They are published by the Institute of Occupa- tional and Personal Safety of the Perm State Technical The basis for organizing Safe and healthy work- Organizing the implementa- University and the Perm professional risks man- places — Making decent tion of employers’ obliga- regional occupational safety agement work a reality tions to comply with safe centre. Both of them are the G. Fainburg This is ILO’s new report pub- work requirements lished to the World Day for seventh amended and sup- This is one of the manuals G. Fainburg Safety and Health at Work- plemented edition. for managing professional This is a handbook for em- 2007 that highlights the new ployers that will help them risks. Promotional Framework for to manage safety and health It describes the measures Occupational Safety and at work. of occupational risks man- Health Convention (No 187). agement in compliance with the ILO recommenda- The Russian encyclopedia on oc- tions. It points to the need cupational safety and health in to use the means of per- three volumes sonal protection and to (second edition) maintain constant coopera- The encyclopedia in prepared by the tion between employers, Russian Social Development and workers and other inter- Health Ministry and contains the most ested partied to improve comprehensive information on occupa- working conditions and tional safety and health in the Russian protect workers’ health. Federation, its history and prospects.

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 9

Our publications

A Handbook on HIV/AIDS International Labour Or- for Labour and Factory ganization: conventions, Inspectors documents, materials The purpose of the hand- This book is not an ILO pub- book is to help labour and lication, but we decided to factory inspectors deal with present it to our readers any- the issue of HIV/AIDS in way. The publishing house their work. In particular, it Business and Service issued will help inspectors apply this collection of ILO’s docu- the ILO Code of Practice on ments and materials on labour HIV/AIDS and the world of rights, working conditions and life of workers in the work, which was adopted in . Full texts June 2001. These guidelines of ILO’s officially translated Joint ILO/WHO Guidelines help to make it clear why HIV/AIDS is a labour issue people on the labour market conventions Russia has rati- for Health Services and fied were for the first time HIV/AIDS and development challenge, in the Caucasus and Central Asia. included in one book. These guidelines are the Together with conventions product of collaboration Based on the analysis of data provided by national the reference book contains between the International the ILO’s most important Labour Organization and statistical committees of the countries in the sub-region documents – the ILO Consti- the World Health Organiza- tution, the Standing Orders of tion. They promote the and some international or- ganizations (ILO, UNICEF, the International Labour Con- sound management of HIV/ ference, declarations, resolu- AIDS in health services, UNDP, World Bank), the survey also reflects the re- tions and some other materials. including the prevention of The book also includes laws occupational exposure. Fur- sults of discussions and findings of the sub-regional of Russia’s supreme legisla- thermore, the purpose is to tive, executive and judicial tripartite workshop on youth ensure that health-care bodies that regulate ILO- employment (Issyk-Kul, workers have decent, safe Russia relations. Kyrgyzstan, May-June and healthy working condi- The book is published for 2006). tions, while ensuring effec- and to discuss the ways it governments, employers’ tive care that respects the concerns labour/factory in- Discussions involving tri- associations and trade unions. needs and rights of patients, spectors. partite partners from seven especially those living with CIS member-states (Azer- HIV/AIDS. Some aspects of youth baijan, Armenia, Georgia, The guidelines are intended education, gender equal- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, for governments, public and ity and employment Russia and Uzbekistan) private employers, workers M. Baskakova helps analyze the situation and their representatives, of youth in such areas as professional associations, The publication has been education, economic activ- scientific and academic in- produced within the frame- ity, unemployment, rates stitutions, and all other work of the ILO/ and quality of employment, groups and bodies with re- Netherlands project on as well as to highlight gen- sponsibilities and activities boosting youth employment. der aspects of these prob- relevant to the delivery of This analytical study pre- lems. health care. sents the situation of young

A series of training manuals for ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business Pro- gramme (SIYB) These manuals were specially published for ILO’s new project Entrepreneurship Develop- ment and Business Training in the North Cauca- sus that is being implemented in North Ossetia, Ingushetia and Chechnya. They include materials for trainers, potential and existing entrepreneurs.

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 10

ILO, UNDP mainstreaming Decent Work in United Modular Training Centre Nations Country Programmes opens in Baku

As we wrote in our previous issue enable them to plan their future collabo- ILO Director-General Juan Somavia ration at the country level effectively. and UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis As a practical result of the work- on February 9 signed the joint agree- shop, the ILO Moscow office and ment to strengthen their collaboration UNDP reviewed the cooperation plans and partnership in a major new effort to for the pilot country in our region - bolster UN actions designed to reduce Kyrgyzstan. poverty and create more decent work. In 2007-2010 the ILO and UNDP The ILO and UNDP will promote inclu- will implement a programme on youth sive economic growth with social de- employment promotion with focus on velopment to benefit the bottom 20 to gender and vulnerable groups. The re- 40 percent of the population, and bol- public’s Chui region has also been cho- ster UN efforts to achieve the Millen- sen as pilot with special focus on farm- F.Alekperov opening the centre nium Development Goals by 2015. ing and food production including vo- Thus, from April 11 to April 13 UN cational skills and marketing. In mid-May the Regional Modular Resident Coordinators and ILO Country The ILO will upgrade the SIYB Training Centre was opened in Baku. Directors from 12 countries (Egypt, training modules used by UNDP pro- The centre will provide services based Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mozam- ject, while the UNDP will provide close on modular training to job seekers, bique, Pakistan, Syria, Tanzania, Trini- links between micro-financing and re- mainly to youth from Baku and other dad & Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay and, ceived training. regions of Azerbaijan. Viet Nam) met in Turin to discuss prac- In 2007-2008 a second round of the Taking part in the inauguration tical ways and means to align the priori- WIND training (self-improvement of ceremony were Azerbaijani Labour ties, content and methods of the ILO’s living and working conditions in the Minister Fizuli Alekperov, UN Resi- Decent Work Agenda with the United rural informal sector) in parallel with dent Coordinator Bruno Pouezat, ILO Nations Development Assistance the employment and poverty project project coordinator in Azerbaijan Framework. will be implemented in the Chui region. Rashad Farajev and governmental offi- Both the UNDP and the ILO ac- In May 2007 through December cials. knowledge that greater policy coher- 2008 the ILO and UNDP will outline ence and better implementation would common approaches to strengthen na- It was mentioned during the cere- have considerable consequences for tional response to HIV/AIDS. mony that the opening of the centre is their daily operations at the country In 2007-2010 they will develop la- a remarkable example of cooperation level. They also recognize that a shared bour migration policy for Kyrgyzstan as between the International Labour Or- understanding of Decent Work and full a sending country and conduct consul- ganization and the United Nations De- employment should be an essential ele- tations with Bishkek Office of the Inter- velopment Programme. ment in national policies for the eradi- national Organization for Migration. The role of ILO’s technical assis- cation of poverty and the achievement The UNDP will explore the possibility tance was highly assessed. This assis- of the Millennium Development Goals. of producing 2008 Human Develop- tance is especially important from the Through this Workshop, UNDP and ment Report on Labour Migration. point of view of matching labour mar- ILO participants acquired a shared un- ILO National Representative Bolot- ket supply and demand and reforming derstanding of the Decent Work para- bek Orokov will participate in common the vocational education training. digm and a better knowledge of their UN initiatives and UN Theme respective mandates, operations and Groups.■ The centre can train about 1,200 programming procedures. This will students in specially equipped class- rooms such as computer and sewing Tbilisi hosting conference on socially responsi- rooms.■ ble enterprise restructuring

A conference on Socially Responsi- tion of new jobs and protection of so- ble Enterprise Restructuring took place cially vulnerable groups of population. at the press centre of the Georgian Eco- Participants studied examples of nomic Development Ministry’s national successful restructuring experience, investment agency on April 30. discussed stages of this process and its One of the conference’s organizers importance for the country’s economy. was the International Labour Organiza- Taking part in the conference were tion. The ILO has provided assistance representatives of the Georgian govern- to heads of enterprises in a difficult ment, experts of non-governmental or- process of restructuring. ganizations, embassies and compa- The conference focused on the crea- nies.■ In the modular training centre

Newsletter №2 (29), Page 11 In Brief force requirements in a global economy) study, Working Time Around the World: this growth has also spawned a consider- Trends in working hours, laws and policies ■ Following a project for Russia’s able number of social and labour chal- in a global comparative perspective says maritime industry in 2004-2005, the Rus- lenges, including concerns over working shorter hours can have positive conse- sian Ministry of Transport has asked ILO’s conditions, wage levels, gender issues and quences including benefits to workers’ International Training Centre in Turin to management-labour relations. health and family lives, reduced accidents run three courses this year that will contrib- ■ On April 25 the lower house of Ka- at the workplace, as well as greater produc- ute to the improvement of the health, safety zakhstan’s parliament (Majlis) has ap- tivity and equality between the sexes. and working conditions of port workers and proved a draft law on ratification of Safety ■ On June 15, the World Bank Moscow to the efficiency and modernization of port and Health in Construction Convention office hosted a workshop Rights of operations in the Russian Federation. They (C167).This Convention applies to all con- Disabled Persons in Russia and E- are financed by the Flemish Government. struction activities, namely building, civil accessibility. It was organized by the World Two will be held in Novorossiysk in June, engineering, and erection and dismantling Bank and the UN Information Centre. It and the third in St. Petersburg in October. work, including any process, operation or brought together disabled persons, The direct beneficiaries will be government transport on a construction site, from the respresentatives of government and the officials (inspectors, advisers, trainers) in preparation of the site to the completion of Russian Social Insurance Fund, experts of charge of implementing the labour protec- the project. UN agencies and other non-governmental tion policy, port authorities, managerial and ■ On May 15, Kazakh President organizations from all over Russia, and technical staff, and trade union representa- Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a new Labour project managers from IT companies, tives in the port sector. Code that fixes a new model for legal regu- including Microsoft. ■ More than 70 senior representatives lation of labour relations. The document is At present, 99 countries and regional of labour and employers organizations, based on the ILO recommendations such as integration organizations signed the along with governments, gathered in Ge- decent and safe working conditions, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with neva on 16-18 April for the first major right to organize and the right to collective Disabilities that had been opened for global tripartite discussion on emerging bargaining as well as principles that meet signature at the UN headquarteres in New labour and social issues in the booming requirements of the international conven- York on April 30. On the list of signatories electronic components manufacturing sec- tions, to which Kazakhstan is a signatory. from the post-Soviet countries are tor that generates more than a trillion dol- ■ A new ILO study estimates that one Armenia, Lithuania and Moldova. Fifty- lars in exports each year. According to a in five workers around the world – or over four countries signed the Optional Protocol. new ILO report prepared for the meeting 600 million persons – are still working Only one country – Jamaica – ratified the (The production of electronic components more than 48 hours a week, often in order new document. for the IT industries: Changing labour to make ends meet. Authors of the new

Summertime and crop in sunshine

Photos: Marcel Crozet, photographer of the ILO Department of Communication in Geneva

ILO Subregional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Russia 107031, Moscow, 15 Petrovka st., office 23 Tel.: +7 (495) 933-0810, fax: +7 (495) 933-0820 Web-site: www.ilo.ru E-mail: [email protected]

Editor: Elena Iskandarova This newsletter is distributed free of charge. Circulation: 3500 copies On the issue of distribution please contact: +7 (095) 933-0810 or [email protected]